North Quad will be a living-learning environment that combines residential and academic facilities, including classrooms and faculty offices. The academic programs housed at North Quad will focus on information, communication and media, and the complex will have a number of high-tech multimedia resources available to students. Two Michigan Learning Communities, the Global Scholars Program and the Max Kade (German) Residence will move into North Quad as their new home.

It will also house a theme community focused on international issues, where students from sophomore year up can advance their knowledge and appreciation of a diverse, multicultural world. Theme communities provide a way for students to explore the University with others who share their interests, offer formal and informal learning opportunities, and make college life easier to navigate by providing connections to peers, mentors and campus resources.

“North Quad presents an exciting residential experience that really strengthens the connection between living and learning,” University Housing Director Linda L. Newman said. “The building, by design and by its programming elements, will create an environment for study, dialogue and intellectual discovery among students and faculty and staff, with technology capabilities that extend the experience far beyond the campus.”

450 students will move in to North Quad on fall 2010 move-in. More details about move-in will be sent to students and parents and will be posted on the University Housing website over the next several weeks.

Starting in 2010, the complex will house the School of Information and the Department of Screen Arts and Cultures, Department of Communication Studies, Language Resource Center and Sweetland Writing Center within the College of Literature, Science and the Arts (LSA).